CIRCULAR 1/2015

Dhaka (Bangladesh). The next edition of the Dhaka International (a biennial event) will take place Next Juries in January of 2016. At the 2014 edition, we couldn't participate January, February, March 2015 with a jury, because of severe budget cuts. We hope however to be back for the next festival.

Palm Springs (USA, January 2–12, 2015). At the Palm Rotterdam (The , January 21 – February 1, 2015). Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF), we present the One of the outstanding festivals for independent world cinema "International Critics' Prize (FIPRESCI Prize) for the Best and a place for discoveries, taking place in the Dutch port city Foreign Language Film of the Year (2014)." Contenders for of Rotterdam. (Please be prepared for the cold weather.)For this special prize are the films submitted to the Non-English 2015, the festival has added a new section called “Limelight”, language section of the Academy Awards, and it does not which focuses on contemporary films with Dutch distribution matter if a film has previously won our regular prize at another already in place. The change will most likely not affect our festival. Foreign filmmakers and film companies use the jury, which has traditionally focused on the "Bright Future" festival to promote their films before continuing to the Golden section (first and second films), which – the festival writes Globes and Oscars. This prize has therefore a special role and "will remain largely unchanged." After taking a short leave significance. As the number of submissions extends all last year, Rutger Wolfson is back as artistic director. The manageable possibilities of a festival jury, we agreed with the invitation to three European colleagues and one juror coming festival organizers (Darryl McDonald, PSIFF's executive from another continent includes an air ticket and b&b director, and Helen du Toit, director of programming) to accommodation. Language: fluent English. National sections downsize the number of eligible candidates for our prize to are asked to inform us as soon as possible. The festival again approximately 25 titles. Even then, it will still be necessary organizes a "Trainee Project" for young critics. We are talking and unavoidable that the members of our jury have already to the festival about a continuation of this initiative and seen many of the selected films, for example at the major respective terms. Website: www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com festivals of Cannes, Berlin, Venice or Toronto. For the complete list of nominated films, please see Gothenburg (Sweden, January 23 – February 2, 2015). The http://www.oscars.org/news/83-countries-competition-2014- Göteborg (European spelling) festival offers a showcase of foreign-language-film-oscarr young international world cinema (sharing prints and guests Palm Springs is a two-hour car drive southeast of Los with Rotterdam, which it overlaps) and has become the center Angeles, to the Coachella Valley which has originally been a of cinema produced in the Nordic countries. Films will be desert (hot temperatures in January). A one hour drive gets presented in the "Nordic Competition" and at the "Nordic Film you to the Joshua Tree National Park (you've got the chance Market" (taking place on four days and offering a marketplace to see coyotes and learn something about the country's early for new Nordic films from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, days). From the 40s, Palm Springs has served as a residential Finland and Iceland, all with English subtitles). This year's haven for Hollywood stars. edition will focus on films from . Participation in our Additional condition: fluent knowledge of the English jury (three members, preferably from Europe or from the language. The festival provides flights and accommodation American East Coast) should be attractive for colleagues with (for three jurors from Europe and the Americas). Because of a special interest in (and knowledge of) Nordic films. The jury a certain time pressure, we had to begin the composition of will be invited for four to five days and will focus on the the jury (PSIFF will immediately start to send out screeners). "Nordic Competition" (eight films). As in previous years, the Colleagues wishing to participate are therefore asked to invitation includes an air ticket and b&b accommodation. urgently contact the General Secretary (via their national Language: fluent English. Please make your candidates known sections). They are asked to add to their request a list of as soon as possible. They will be asked to present a film nominated films they have already seen. selected from the festival program. Website: www.giff.se Additionally to a 'best film', the jury has to award prizes for 'best actor' and 'best actress'. Website: www.psfilmfest.org

Tromso (Norway, International Film Festival, January 12–18, 2015). From organizational reason, the festival already needed FIPRESCI – International Federation of Film Critics our jury composition at the beginning of November. We could – The General Secretary – therefore not announce it in a circular. We did finalize the jury, Schleissheimer Str. 83, D 80797 Munich, considering colleagues who had applied in earlier years but T +49 (89) 18 23 03, F +49 (89) 18 47 66 had not yet been invited. Website: www.tiff.no [email protected], [email protected], www.fipresci.org Circular 1/2015 Page 2

Berlin (Germany, February 5–15, 2015). Our jury at this colleagues are particularly asked to apply. Air tickets will be major event has the difficult task of presenting three awards: available from Europe and from the Americas, as well as b&b for a film in the international competition, for a film in the accommodation. National sections are asked to make their Panorama section and for a film in the International Forum of candidates known by January 5, 2015, with some evidence of New Cinema. Our jury will therefore be divided into three their knowledge of and special interest in Mexican and 'sub-juries': Ibero-American cinemas. We will also participate, along with A – Experienced colleagues should focus on the international the Berlinale Talents, in a Talent Press workshop for young competition. No invitations are available for this sub-jury. critics from northern Latin American countries. Deadline: Colleagues being already invited by the festival are kindly January 5, 2015 Website: https://www.ficg.mx asked to make themselves known; their invitations may be extended to the whole period. Cartagena (, Festival Internacional de Cine de B – Colleagues wishing to focus on the Panorama section Cartagena de Indias (FICCI), March 11–17, 2015). The 55th are asked to mention this in their application. One, maybe two edition of the Cartagena Film Festival promises to give the invitations (b&b accommodation) are hopefully available. Colombian audience a chance to enjoy new cinematic trends C –The Forum should be of special interest for young critics. in the international industry, whilst maintaining its special For this sub-jury, up to two invitations (b&b accommodation) focus on Ibero-American cinema. The festival promotes are also available. cultural diversity and carries out the exhibition of works by All participation requests should arrive via national sections. Latin American and Caribbean countries. Cartagena de Indias Please take into consideration that it is (physically) impossible is a city on the northern coast of Colombia and capital of to follow more than one complete section. The jurors are asked Bolívar Department. The metropolitan area has a population to cover in their publications the sections on which their jury of 1,240,000, and the city proper 1,090,000, making it the fifth focuses. Air tickets will not be offered. Languages: English. largest urban area in Colombia and a center of economic Deadline: as soon as possible. Please note that it's essential to activity in the Caribbean region, as well a popular tourist apply for one of the sub-juries (applications without this destination. In 1984, Cartagena's colonial walled city and information cannot be processed). If your candidate has fortress were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. already received an invitation from the festival, please let us Since our jury will focus on Latin American films, only know. specialists in Latin American cinema should apply (via their Websites: www.berlinale.de (Competition, Panorama) national sections). One jury member should be coming from and www.arsenal-berlin.de/en/forum (Forum). Europe, another one from a Latin American country. Deadline: as soon as possible. Website: www.festicinecartagena.org Sofia (Bulgaria, March 5–15, 2015). The festival started in 1997 and has become a major event in Bulgaria and the Thessaloniki (Greece, Documentary Film Festival, March Balkans. Its aim is "to promote significant and innovative 13–22, 2015). Dimitri Eipides founded the Documentary Film works in contemporary world cinema for local audiences and Festival "Images of the 21st Century" in 1999. "The main regional (Bulgarian and the Balkans) cinema to international program," writes the festival, "is focusing on documentaries audiences." A good opportunity therefore to get acquainted that explore the social and cultural developments in the world, with the recent Bulgarian and Balkan productions. Our prize introducing at the same time a number of new side sections is dedicated to young cinema (first and second features), with and events based on important works by new documentarists." a special eye on films from the region. Our jury consists of Festival and jury should be of particular interest to colleagues three members. Air tickets are available within Europe; b&b writing about the documentary film genre (also in film accommodation is offered as well. As the festival takes ten magazines). The jurors are asked to attend for the whole days, a jury period of around one week will be introduced period, and to select two winners, from the international (four to five working days, to be announced later). Language: competition and from the Greek Panorama. The festival offers English. Colleagues with a special interest in films from the air tickets and b&b accommodation, restricted however to Balkans are kindly requested to apply (via their national colleagues coming from European countries. Documentary sections) by January 9, 2015. Website: www.sofiaiff.com film specialists should apply, via their national sections, by January 9, 2015. They will receive further information. Guadalajara (, March 6–15, 2015). This festival in Language: English. Website: www.filmfestival.gr the Mexican State of Jálisco (a one-hour-flight from Mexico City) started as a showcase for new Mexican films (Muestra Toulouse (, "Rencontres Cinémas d'Amérique Latine", de Cine Méxicano). It later added an overview of new films March 19–29, 2015). A prestigious showcase of recent Latin from other Latin American countries to its program, as well American films, in 2015 running in it's 27th edition. Long as from and , and focuses nowadays, as features that have not yet been released in France will be "Festival Internacional de Cine en Guadalajara" (Guadalajara screened; as well as feature debuts and documentaries. The International Film Festival), on a feature, short and festival cooperates with San Sebastian to support the post- documentary Ibero-American competition. Our jurors (three production of Latin-American films ("Cinéma en to five members) must have a special knowledge of and Construction"). Meetings and conferences are also planned. experience with Latin American cinematographies (in Our jury has three members (from Europe), language: French particular Mexican cinema). Two prizes will be presented: to (!), and will probably again focus on the "Coup de Coeur" an Ibero-American film, and to a Mexican film. Language: section (first and second long feature films). Also, a jury English, some knowledge of Spanish is necessary (not all films period of around six days will be introduced. In particular (but are expected to have English subtitles). Our Latin-American not only) young colleagues are requested to make themselves Circular 1/2015 Page 3

known (via their national sections) who are open to make acquaintance with the cinematographies of . Jury requests should be addressed to our national The invitation covers an air ticket within Europe and b&b sections. They are asked and authorized to propose one accommodation. Deadline: January 9, 2015. national candidate per jury. Website: www.cinelatino.com.fr All correspondence concerning juries should be directed to [email protected]. Fribourg (Switzerland, March 21–28, 2015). The Fribourg "All colleagues wishing to participate in a jury or Festival, headed by Thierry Jobin, is one of the most important conference, are kindly asked to inform, with their European showcases of Third World cinema, with an request, on their complete address (inlcuding email), as interesting selection of films from Africa, Asia and Latin well as on the publication/s and/or media where they are America. Our jury members should therefore have a special going to cover the concerned event (in particular if this interest in and knowledge of Third World cinematographies differs from the information given earlier in the – and also have the space to cover the event accordingly in registrations). They are as well asked to supply evidence their media outlets. The jury (three members) is also open to that they contributed as film journalists or critics at least young critics, as well as to colleagues who would wish to three times to a regular publication or media over a deepen their knowledge of Third World cinema. Languages: period of the last twelve months." (Jury Regulations) English and/or French. Air tickets (hopefully worldwide again) are available. Our colleagues from Africa, Asia and Latin America are particularly invited to apply. National sections should make their candidates known by January 16, 2015. Website: www.fiff.ch Deadlines

Hong Kong (March 23 – April 6, 2015). This major Asian As soon as possible: Palm Springs, Rotterdam, Gothenburg, film event, now in its 39th edition, has been detached from Berlin, Cartagena earlier governmental influence and has, after a period of January 5: Guadalajara, Hong Kong transition, found an own and independent organizational January 9: Sofia, Thessaloniko Doc, Toulouse structure: "The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society January 16: Fribourg is a non-profit, non-government organization which develops, promotes and encourages creativity in the art and culture of film through the presentation of the annual Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF)" (Festival information). Programmed by our colleagues Li Cheuk-to and Jacob Wong, the festival offers a marvelous overview on recent world cinema, and, in particular, one of the best selections of new Asian films — and especially recent Hong Kong movies. Our jury will select a film from the section "Young Asian Cinema". The jurors must have a special experience with and knowledge of Asian cinema. Priority will be given to colleagues who can produce some evidence of this special knowledge. The jury has three members (one Asian juror, one from any non-Asian country, one from Hong Kong) and will probably be invited with a contribution to the costs of an air ticket and with b&b accommodation for a jury period (of around five working days, the exact period and conditions to be announced later). Language: fluent English. Deadline: January 5, 2015. Interested colleagues are invited to make themselves known via their national sections; they'll receive further information on the state of affairs. Website: www.hkiff.org.hk

Edited by Karsten Kastelan

The juries of April, May and June will be announced in a later circular. For any changes, please visit regularly the members' area of our website www.fipresci.org. Published December 4, 2014